Weight-training platform

ABSTRACT

A weight-training platform includes a rectangular base frame placed on a flooring surface, a cushion pad mounted within the base frame, a barbell placed on the cushion pad for allowing the user to lift the barbell off the cushion pad and to lower the barbell back to the cushion pad, an elastic device set including two elastic bands fastened to the base frame and spaced from each other at a distance and respectively bridging over the two opposite ends of the barbell, and two weight component sets mounted at the base frame to hold down the base frame on the flooring surface by the gravity weight thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to exerciser technology and more particularly, to a weight-training platform.

2. Description of the Related Art

Weight lifting exercise is a well-known weight training exercise. By means of snatch a barbell, an athlete can train the core muscle groups of the back, hips and legs. However, the general users are not familiar with the weight-lifting posture and weight control. Hastily practice weightlifting can result in various injuries.

US2014/0057767A1 discloses a modular exercise platform for athletes or general users to practice weightlifting. Please refer to the specification and the annexed drawings. This design of modular exercise platform 100 comprises a base frame 102 and a substrate 104. The base frame 102 is placed on a flooring surface, comprising two long tubes 106 and two short tubes 108. The substrate 104 is mounted in the base frame 102. As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the specification, when using the modular exercise platform 100, the user can place a barbell on the substrate 104, and then fasten two elastic bands to the base frame 102, enabling the elastic bands to bridge over the two opposite ends of the barbell. At this time, the user can start weightlifting exercises. It's worth mentioning that when the user lifts the barbell off the substrate 104, the two elastic bands impart a downward pressure to the barbell, enhancing the training intensity and limiting the barbell to the top side of the modular exercise platform 100 to avoid shaking and falling due to poor posture.

However, when the user lifts the barbell off the substrate 104, the two opposite ends of the barbell will stretch the elastic bands to pull the base frame 102 upwardly from the flooring surface. In order to prevent the base frame 102 from being lifted off the flooring surface, floor clips 144 are affixed to the flooring surface with screws to secure the base frame 102 firmly to the flooring surface. Further, the frame 102 may include two floor plates 112. The floor plates 112 are fastened to the long tubes 106, and affixed to the flooring surface with screws. This installation method of fixedly securing the base frame 102 to the flooring surface by using screws to affix the floor clips 144 and the floor plates 112 can damage the structure of the flooring surface. Further, it is troublesome to install or deliver the modular exercise platform 100. Further, when the user wishes to increase or reduce the weight of the barbell, the user must go off the modular exercise platform 100 to the nearby weight rack to pick up or out down weights, bringing inconvenience. In general, the above-described prior art modular exercise platform is still not satisfactory in function and has room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a weight-training platform, which can be firmly positioned on a flooring surface, and allows the user to pick up and put down a barbell in the weight-training platform and to pick up and put down weights without going off the weight-training platform.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a weight-training platform comprises a base frame, a cushion pad, a barbell, an elastic device set, and two weight component sets. The base frame is adapted for placing on a flooring surface. The base frame comprises two first tubes and two second tubes. One first tube has two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to respective one ends of the two second tubes. The other first tube has two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to respective opposite ends of the two second tubes. The cushion pad is mounted within the base frame. The barbell is placed on the cushion pad for lifting off and lowering back to the cushion pad by the user. The elastic device set comprises two elastic bands spaced from each other and respectively bridging over two opposite ends of the barbell. The two elastic bands have respective opposite ends thereof respectively connected to the two first tubes. The two weight component sets are respectively and selectively mounted at the two second tubes or first tubes of the base frame to hold down the base frame on the flooring surface by the gravity weight thereof.

Preferably, each weight component set comprises an upright support mounted at one respective second tube, a transverse bar located at a top side of the upright support, and at least one weight detachably attached to the transverse bar.

Thus, when using the weight-training platform, the user can stand up on the cushion pad, and then lift the barbell off the cushion pad and lower it back to the cushion. When the user lifts the barbell off the cushion pad, the two opposite ends of the long bar of the barbell pull the elastic bands upward, thereby elastically deforming the elastic bands. At this time, the gravity weight of the weight component sets hold down the base frame on the flooring surface, preventing the base frame from being lifted off the flooring surface by the elastic restoring force of the elastic bands. Further, the weight-training platform can be installed in any place according to the user's needs, such as gym or home, facilitating installation and delivery, and solving the problem of floor structure damage due to the use of screws to affix the platform to the floor as seen in the prior art design. Further, when the user wishes to increase or reduce the training intensity during exercise, the user can selectively detach weights from the nearby weight component sets and attach them to the barbell, or selectively remove weights from the barbell and attach them to the nearby weight component sets without going off the weight-training platform.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a weight-training platform in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the weight-training platform in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a part of the weight-training platform in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a part of the weight-training platform in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the connection relationship among the first tubes, the second tubes, the connection members and the upright supports.

FIG. 5 is an oblique top elevational view of a weight-training platform in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a weight-training platform 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The weight-training platform 1 comprises a base frame 10, a cushion pad 20, a barbell 30, an elastic device set 40 and four weight component sets 50.

The base frame 10 is adapted for placing on a flooring surface, comprising two first tubes 12, two second tubes 14 and four connection members 16. One first tube 12 has two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to respective one ends of the second tubes 14 by means of two connection members 16. The other first tube 12 has two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to respective opposite ends of the second tubes 14 by means of the other two connection members 16. Especially, in this embodiment, the two first tubes 12 and the two second tubes 14 are all rectangular tubes; however, in actual application, the two first tubes 12 and the two second tubes 14 can be round tubes or polygonal tubes. Further, each first tube 12 comprises a plurality of first through holes 122; each second tube 14 comprises a plurality of second through holes 142. The connection members 16 are triangular gussets each comprising a gusset body 162 and two gusset flanges 164. The gusset body 162 in this embodiment is a triangular panel. The two gusset flanges 164 are respectively perpendicularly extended from two sides of the gusset body 162. In this embodiment, one end of one first tube 12 and one end of one second tube 14 are fixedly connected to the two gusset flanges 164 of one connection member 16 with screws 62. In this embodiment, the connection between the four connection members 16 and the first and second tubes 12;14 is done in the same manner. However, in other embodiments, rivets, screw bolts and nuts, or welding technology can be employed to fixedly connect the opposite ends of the first tubes 12 and the opposite ends of the second tubes 14 to the gusset flanges 164 of the respective connection members 16. It's worth mentioning that the opposite ends of the first tubes 12 can be directly welded to respective opposite ends of the second tubes 14 without using the connection members 16.

In this embodiment, the base frame 10 further comprises two first belt hooks (18 a,18 b) and two second belt hooks (19 a,19 b). The two first belt hooks (18 a,18 b) are mounted on one first tube 12 and spaced from each other at a predetermined distance. The two second belt hooks (19 a,19 b) are mounted on the other first tube 12 and spaced from each other at the same predetermined distance to face toward the respective first belt hooks 18 a. The first belt hooks (18 a,18 b) and the second belt hooks (19 a,19 b) are identical in structure, each comprising a T-shaped hook portion 182 and a connecting portion 184. The connecting portion 184 is shaped like a plate. The T-shaped hook portion 182 is fixedly connected to one side of the connecting portion 184. The connecting portion 184 is affixed to one respective first tube 12 with screws 63. By means of this mounting method, the first belt hooks (18 a,18 b) and the second belt hooks (19 a,19 b) are respectively affixed to the respective first tubes 12. In actual application, rivets, screw bolts and nuts, or welding technology can be employed to fixedly connect the connecting portions 184 of the first belt hooks (18 a,18 b) and second belt hooks (19 a,19 b) to the respective first tubes 12.

The cushion pad 20 is mounted within the base frame 10. Further, the cushion pad 20 is made of a shock absorbing material.

The barbell 30 is placed on a top side of the cushion pad 20 within the base frame 10. Further, the barbell 30 comprises a consisting of a long bar 32 with weights 34 attached at each end.

The elastic device set 40 comprises two elastic bands 42. These two elastic bands 42 have respective opposite ends thereof respectively connected to the two first tubes 12, more specifically, the two elastic bands 42 are made of an elastic material in a loop shape. One elastic band 42 has the two opposite ends thereof respectively hooked on the T-shaped hook portion 182 of one first belt hook 18 a and the T-shaped hook portion 182 of one second belt hook 19 a. The other elastic band 42 has the two opposite ends thereof respectively hooked on the T-shaped hook portion 182 of the other first belt hook 18 b and the T-shaped hook portion 182 of the other second belt hook 19 b. Further, these two elastic bands 42 respectively bridge over the two opposite ends of the long bar 32 of the barbell 30. It's worth mentioning that the elastic damping strength of the elastic bands 42 can be determined subject to the width or thickness of the elastic bands 42. The larger the width or thickness of the elastic bands 42 is, the higher the elastic damping strength the elastic bands 42 can provide.

Two weight component sets 50 are mounted at one second tube 14. The other two weight component sets 5 are mounted at the other second tube 14. The gravity of these four weight component sets 50 holds down the base frame 10 firmly on the flooring surface. Further, since these four weight component sets 50 are identical in structure, only one weight component set 50 is taken as an example for explanation. The weight component set 50 comprises an upright support 52, a transverse bar 54 and at least one weight 34. The upright support 52 comprises a mounting portion 56 located at a bottom side thereof, and a plurality of mounting through hole 57 cut through the mounting portion 56 for the mounting respective screw bolts 64 to affix the upright support 52 to the second tube 14, more specifically, screw bolts 64 are inserted through the respective second through holes 142 of the respective second tube 14 and the respective mounting through holes 57 in the mounting portion 56 and then screwed up with respective nut 66 to affix the mounting portion 56 to the respective second tube 14, thereby affixing the upright support 52 to the respective second tube 14. In actual application, rivets or welding technology can be employed to affix the upright support 52 to the respective second tube 14. The transverse bar 54 is located at a top side of the upright support 52. The at least one weight 34 is detachably attached to the transverse bar 54.

Referring to FIG. 5, a weight-training platform in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this second embodiment, each second tube 14 has only one weight component set 50 mounted thereon. Further, at least one weight component set 50 is mounted on one first tube 12; at least one weight component set 50 is mounted on the other first tube 12; screw bolts 64 are respectively mounted in the first through holes 122 of the first tube 12 and the respective mounting through holes 57 of the mounting portion 56 of the respective upright supports 52 and fastened up with respective nuts 66 to affix the respective weight component sets 50 to the respective first tubes 12. In actual application, the user can selectively mount weight component sets 50 on the first tubes 12 and/or the second tubes 14; the amount of weight component sets 50 on the first tubes 12 and/or the second tubes 14 can be adjusted according to the user's needs. Further, in this second embodiment, multiple cushion pad s 20 are mounted in the base frame 10 and arranged in rows.

In conclusion, when using the weight-training platform 1 of the present invention, the user can stand up on the cushion pad 20 in the base frame 10 to lift the barbell 30 off the cushion pad 20 and then to lower the barbell 30 back to the cushion pad 20. When the user lifts the barbell 30 off the cushion pad 20, the two opposite ends of the long bar 32 of the barbell 30 pull the elastic bands 42 upward, thereby elastically deforming the elastic bands 42. At this time, the gravity weight of the weight component sets 50 hold down the base frame 10 on the flooring surface, preventing the base frame 10 from being lifted off the flooring surface by the elastic restoring force of the elastic bands 42. Further, the weight-training platform 1 can be installed in any place according to the user's needs, such as gym or home, facilitating installation and delivery, and solving the problem of floor structure damage due to the use of screws to affix the platform to the floor as seen in the prior art design.

Further, when the user wishes to increase the training intensity during exercise, the user can selectively detach weights 34 from the nearby weight component sets 50 and attach them to the barbell 30 without going off the weight-training platform 1; when the user wishes to reduce the training intensity during exercise, the user can selectively remove weights 34 from the barbell 30 and attach them to the nearby weight component sets 50 without going off the weight-training platform 1.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A weight-training platform, comprising: a base frame for placing on a flooring surface, said base frame comprising two first tubes and two second tubes, one said first tube having two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to respective one ends of said two second tubes, the other said first tube having two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to respective opposite ends of said two second tubes; a cushion pad mounted within said base frame; a barbell placed on said cushion pad for lifting off and lowering back to said cushion pad by the user; an elastic device set comprising two elastic bands fastened to the base frame and spaced from each other and respectively bridging over two opposite ends of said barbell, said two elastic bands having respective opposite ends thereof respectively connected to said two first tubes; and two weight component sets respectively and selectively mounted at the two said second tubes or two said first tubes of said base frame to hold down said base frame on said flooring surface by the gravity weight thereof.
 2. The weight-training platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said weight component set comprises an upright support mounted at one respective said second tube, a transverse bar located at a top side of said upright support, and at least one weight detachably attached to said transverse bar.
 3. The weight-training platform as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said second tube comprises a plurality of second through holes; the said upright support of each said weight component set comprises a mounting portion located at a bottom side thereof, a plurality of mounting through holes cut through said mounting portion, a plurality of screw bolts respectively mounted in said mounting through holes and the respective said second through holes of one respective said second tube, and a plurality of nuts respectively fastened to the respective said screw bolts to fixedly secure said upright support to the respective said second tube.
 4. The weight-training platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said weight component set comprises an upright support mounted at one respective said first tube, a transverse bar located at a top side of said upright support, and at least one weight detachably attached to said transverse bar.
 5. The weight-training platform as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said first tube comprises a plurality of first through holes; the said upright support of each said weight component set comprises a mounting portion located at a bottom side thereof, a plurality of mounting through holes cut through said mounting portion, a plurality of screw bolts respectively mounted in said mounting through holes and the respective said first through holes of one respective said first tube, and a plurality of nuts respectively fastened to the respective said screw bolts to fixedly secure said upright support to the respective said first tube.
 6. The weight-training platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weight component sets are fixedly fastened to the respective said second tubes by screwed, bolted, welded or riveted joints.
 7. The weight-training platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame further comprises two first belt hooks mounted on one said first tube and spaced from each other at a predetermined distance, and two second belt hooks mounted on the other said first tube and spaced from each other at the said predetermined distance; one said elastic band has the two opposite ends thereof respectively hooked on one said first belt hook and one said second belt hook; the other said elastic band has the two opposite ends thereof respectively hooked on the other said first belt hook and the other said second belt hook.
 8. The weight-training platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame further comprises four connection members; one said first tube has the two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to the one end of one respective said second tube by one respective said connection member; the other said first tube has the two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to the other end of one respective said second tube by one respective said connection member.
 9. The weight-training platform as claimed in claim 8, wherein said four connection members are respectively and fixedly connected to said first tubes and said second tubes by screwed, bolted, welded or riveted joints. 